August 4th 2025 Council Meeting Minutes

Monday, August 4^th, 2025

6:30 P.M. Community Center

Attending: Mayor Steve T. Nichols, Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Watkins, Council Members Josh Burkhalter, Thomas Gary, and Mike Barfield. Library Manager Rhonda O., City Attorney Jody Campbell, Finance Director Glenda Cantrell, and City Clerk Irma Robles. For public assistance, refer to the attendance sheet. Not present: Public Works Director Doyle Samples, and Mainstreet Newspaper (Draft minutes emailed to Mr. Mike Buffington on 8/5/2025).

CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Steve T. Nichols called the Council Meeting on August 4^th, 2025, to order at 6:31 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Council Member Thomas Gary led the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America flag.

APPROVAL OF AUGUST 4^TH, 2025, COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA: Councilman Mike Barfield asked if the bids for the City Shop Metal Building were the same. Mayor Nichols replied that these remain the same, and since it was tabled at the last meeting, it needs to be revisited tonight. Council Member Thomas Gary made a motion to approve the Agenda for August 4^th, 2025, as presented. Councilman Josh Burkhalter seconded. There were no further discussions, and all were in favor. The agenda was approved.

APPROVAL OF JULY 7^TH, 2025, COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. Councilman Thomas Gary motioned to approve the Council Meeting Minutes on July 7^th, 2025, as presented; Councilman Josh Burkhalter seconded. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The minutes were approved.

JUNE 2025 FINANCIALS: Councilman Mike Barfield motioned to approve the June 2025 Financials as submitted. Council member Josh Burkhalter seconded this motion. Councilman Thomas Gary inquired about expense item 52.1208 for $5,967.75 to Bureau Veritas, and City Clerk Irma Robles replied that the expense includes 75% of building permits and inspections, planning and zoning, and code enforcement services. A discussion took place regarding the distribution of building permit fees with Bureau Veritas. Councilman Lamar Watkins arrived at the meeting at 6:36 pm. Mayor Nichols inquired about the expense item 52.1200 for $5,318.00 to KCI, and the Finance Director, Glenda Cantrell, clarified that it is a bill back from April. Mayor Steve clarified that expense item 51.2100 for $12,175.56 to Group Insurance covers two months. There were no further discussions. All were in favor. Motion was approved. June 2025 Financials were approved.

NEW BUSINESS:
2024 Audit Presentation

Auditor Rachel Miller provided the 2024 Audit financial statements to Mayor and Council, and mentioned that her firm has a clear opinion on the city’s financial statements for last year, which means the city passed the audit. She also provided totals for each city’s account, capital assets, infrastructure, improvements to buildings, and liabilities. Councilman Mike Barfield requested that Mrs. Miller come to the podium so he could hear her better. Rachel provided an expense statement broken down by the city’s government functions, such as public works, sanitation, and the culture and recreation department, with a total revenue of $ 1.6 million and total expenses of $ 1.4 million, resulting in a $ 200,000 net position surplus. Also, she had cash-in and cash-out reports on each city’s account. On page 7 of the financial statement provided, she mentioned the day-to-day reconciliation schedule. Overall, the city was within budget in all General Fund categories. The General Fund has a $136,000 surplus, indicating the city generated more revenue than it spent. Therefore, on page 29, she added that there are two financial statement findings for this audit, which are related to transactions related to SPLOST accounts. There were discussions between Mayor Nichols and Finance Director Glenda Cantrell about these findings. Auditor Rachel Miller mentioned that she would email a detailed report of these transactions to Mayor Nichols the next day, as she didn’t have these with her at the meeting.

Proclamation: August 11th, 2025, as Nicholson 811 Day
City Clerk Irma Robles read the Proclamation to declare August 11^th, 2025, as Nicholson Digging Day. Councilman Thomas Gary to accept the Proclamation as presented, Councilman Mike Barfield seconded this motion. There were no discussions; all were in favor. Motion was approved.

OLD/UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Selection of Bid: City Shop 50×80 Metal Building Installation. Councilman Thomas Gary moved to remove this agenda item from the table at the last meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Watkins seconded this motion. There were no discussions. All were in favor. Motion was approved. The agenda item was untabled. Councilman Thomas Gary made a motion to move forward with the bid selection and approved DCI Metal’s bid for the city’s shop building and foundation with the specs that the city provided. Council member Josh Burkhalter seconded. Councilman Mike Barfield inquired whether the bid is still being approved without electrical and plumbing services. Mayor Nichols confirmed this and added that, once the city approves a contractor, negotiations will be held with the awarded bidder for these services. Councilman Mike Barfield asked City Attorney Jody Campbell if negotiations could be done during the bidding process, and he responded that negotiations could only be done after selecting a winner, after they have been awarded the project. There were no further discussions. Councilman Mike Barfield opposed. 3-1 Motion was approved.

LIBRARIAN’S REPORT

Rhonda O’Keeffe, Library Manager.

The 2025 Summer Reading Program is officially over. The last day to turn in reading points was Saturday, August 2. The library drew names for the grand prize winners today and contacted them. It was a successful summer.
2025 Summer Lunches were a success. The last day to pick up lunches was Wednesday, July 30^th. School started in Jackson County on Thursday, July 31^st.
The Nicholson Library served 701 lunches in June and 505 in July, totaling 1206. This was a combination of the money the library received from a grant and lunches from Backpack Kids. The library will be applying for another grant next summer and will ask for more money. Also, they will ask for more lunches from Backpack Kids.
The library has not finished counting all the children who participated in the 2025 Summer Reading Program. They have paper logs and the app Beanstack.
Library Assistant Sherri Stephens was at the EJES School Open House to promote the library. Library Manager Rhonda O., along with PuRL (rolling library), attended the SJES Open House to promote their services.
Rhonda O. will be at the SJES on Monday, August 18^th with PuRL.
The best news is that the library’s new circulation desk and end panels will be installed in the week of August 11^th. The library is taking this week to pack and move items. They will be open during the renovation.
Councilman Thomas Gary asked if the library would continue with the Summer Feeding Program next year, considering the JM Family grant. The Library Manager confirmed this statement.

MAYOR’S REPORT:

Mayor Steve T. Nichols

Mayor Nichols provided an update on the community center project. He mentioned the black plastic at the entrance of the room. An insurance claim for $49,000.00 has been submitted due to significant damage to all columns, which are rotten and need reconstruction.

Councilman Thomas Gary added that he would like to dedicate the Annex Building to Mrs. Margaret Ward during the fall of this year.

Library Manager Rhonda O. requested recipes from everyone so these can be added to the Friends of the Library Cookbook.

CITIZENS REQUESTING TO SPEAK: Sammy Bachman from the City of Commerce Natural Gas Dept provided an update on gas projects in this area. Councilman Josh Burkhalter asked about any gas high-pressure line projects on A.C. Smith Rd.

ADJOURNMENT: Councilman Josh Burkhalter motioned to adjourn the August 4^th, 2025, Council Meeting. Councilman Mike Barfield seconded, and all were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:23 p.m.

Announcements:

*Next Work Session – August 28^th,2025, at 6:30 pm

*Next Council Meeting– September 3^rd, 2025, at 6:30 pm